What is this?

[DizziDezi2]

This has been on my live rock for about four months- I didnt see it grow- so maybe it was on there when I got it. I'm jsut wanted to know if I should pull it off? Its light brown- looks kinda like a huge spider web-really tightly woven. Any ideas? It kinda extends down the left hand side.

[Doctor_Reef]

Can you get a better picture of this???? I really can't make it out that well and would hate to guess!!! Thanks....

[MikeS]

hard to tell from the photos, but looks like a bit of hair algae to me

Mike

[DizziDezi2]

Heres another...hope its better

Are there strong tiny tubes that the brown stuff is comeing from??

[Doctor_Reef]

I am sorry I still can't make it out... I am with Travis here wonder if they are coming from a tube or not....

[Brock Fluharty]

I have that on my live rock too. My hermits, unfortunately, leave it alone. It is so ugly I wish they would just eat it off. I haven't seen any tubes coming from mine, it just kinda appeared...not sure what it is.


Brock Fluharty

[DizziDezi2]

No no tubes just looks like interweaving of strings- my hermits or snail wont touch it- I think its some kind of bacteria- I'm not sure though.. maybe I can get a better pic.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Is it growing in a clump? It's really hard to tell in the pic the growth pattern.

It sort of resembles the early stages of this - http://www.guiamarina.com/balticsea/02%20Plants/01%20Macroalgae/Rhodophyceae/imagepages/image1.htm

[DizziDezi2]

This one is it...
http://www.guiamarina.com/balticsea/02%20Plants/01%20Macroalgae/Rhodophyceae/imagepages/image12.htm
What should I do about it? Thanks Sug- Can I pull it off underwater- its kinda holding the moutain in place- I dont want spores everywehre- anything that might eat it?

[DizziDezi2]

I swear that looks just like it...but it says its from Deutschland? lol

[Brock Fluharty]

I have the same thing in my tank, and I can't get rid of it! It just keeps coming back!

[Sugar Magnolia]

It could also be wrangelia argus, which is a hair like reddish brown algae common in the Carribean and around Hawaii.

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/reefalgae/What%20plants%20look%20like/Plants%20Wrangelia%20argus.htm
http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/guest/algaepage/Red/redfilamentous/Wargus.htm

The problem with nuisance algaes is that some of them can be very dificult to remove. They all thrive in a nutrient rich environment, so cutting back on your feeding, along with shortening the light cycle will help. Getting a refugium in place with some macroalgaes to outcompete the nuisance algae will help too.

Manual removal is your best bet because it's hit or miss with snails, crabs and fish. I'd suggest removing the rocks and pulling off as much as you can then scrub the area with a soft toothbrush, rinse in a separate bucket of tank water before placing it back in your tank.

[DizziDezi2]

really- its on one of the largest rocks holding everything up- would an exacto work? lol - I cant take it out!